What motivates you to work out

Ok so I'm one of those guys that needs something to spur me on to work out. Some sort of motivation. I'm by no means one of those guys who's work out is as part of their daily routine as anything else.

I got sick recently and have found it hard to get the motivation to go back to the gym since.

So I figured that by listening to what motivates you, perhaps I could discover/inspire what motivates me.

I'm with Timberoo! I've already lost the bulk of the weight I set out to lose, but it's still not good enough. I'm happy with who I am, but I'd like to be a better me! I haven't been thin since I was 11 and it's time I have abs!!! On top of this, my original motivation was that I was denied the ability to donate blood and advised to not do strenuous exercise at age 21 because my heartrate was near that of a person having a heart attack. A good diet quickly resolved my blood pressure issues but it was only the beginning. I'm happy to say that I am a healthy (though not thin and defined...YET) individual. If you lack motivation, just think of your health. Exercise is key to a healthy lifestyle.

After 20+ years it is pretty much programmed into me. Also my grandmothers dying words to me .. "Son, never let yourself get in such shape as I am "(she was 93). Yep, it makes me feel good and feel and look younger.

I've kept in shape on and off all my life but the last time I felt motivated to get serious about it was about two years ago when the following things happened in a three week period:

- I tried on a pair of 36" waist board shorts and they were too tight.- I bumped into someone I used to work with and they couldn't believe how much weight I'd put on.- I was swimming with friends when someone made a comment about my enormous gut.

The universe spoke to me and it seemed to be saying "get in shape you slob!"

Man there are lots and lots of reasons. One is that by doing it daily my body has become accustomed to it, I don't feel right if I don't get my daily endorphin fix. Two, I enjoy the feeling of health, vitality, and energy that it gives me. Three, I know the work that I do today might be the only thing that saves my life one day. Four, in guys who work out 5 days a week, there chances of dying from anything are much lower then sedentary people, its called all cause mortality, it also reduces your risk of cancer. The stronger you are in your youth the better chance you have of being able to live independently when you're old. The alternative being to lie in a nursing home some where where people have to change your diaper and you lie there waiting to die for 10 or 20 years...no thank you.

Now I know that I am probably going to get flamed like crazy for this, but some of it is vanity. I love walking into a bar and watching them fight over me like a pack of wild dogs. haha. It's nice to be able to go out and have people notice you, its nice that they notice all the hard work you put into looking great. I really think this sets you apart from most others. Lets face it, it takes a lot of discipline, commitment, and ass busting work to look great.

Last, a commitment to staying active and fit, or getting there, has a way of effecting every other area of your life. You get in shape and you hold your head a little higher, there's a little more spring in your step, you have energy, confidence, vitality, and life pumping through your veins. That's the kind of thing that seeps over and improves many, many aspects of your life, I would say damn near everything, from your professional/work life to your personal relationships, etc. Man this is good stuff, if you just can discipline yourself into sticking with it for six months I guarantee you will see this start to happen, and it will become a lifestyle instead of something you have to do. I have yet to see anything else that can have as much of a profound effect on peoples life, and that is why I train myself and I train others.

Hey guys! Great responses so far! And thank you YngHungSFSD for such a well worded response. That in itself is motivating.

I'm all for the health benefits and the sense of satisfaction it can bring when it comes to self image and esteem. Vanity I guess is as much a part of it as well. We all want to look good, because that helps us feel good as well. I don't think thats superficial then at all.

I'm thinking of perhaps taking one of my mates with me to the gym. I always seem to enjoy it so much better with someone else working out with me!

All I can say is to re-iterate what everyone has! After dropping from 260 to 170 then bulking up to 195/200, I can say it is the sense of accomplishment, the sense of completion, the sense of kicking my own ass, pushing myself. And now I will also add and agree VANITY!! It's GREAT getting attention, period!

I'm was kinda surprise nobody said anything about competitiveness. My reason is Im very competitive and I'm also looking to see how far I can push my body before it collapses. When I joined the military I was the oldest in my division 22 at the time and pushed myself to score higher then everyone else. When offered the chance to try for the Seal team I jumped at it. Went through hell and back but came out on top. I even got a few laughs out of it because I saw grown men 6'+ 250lb absolute solid muscle break down in tears that they couldnt continue because it was to much for them.

When I suffered nerve damage to my shoulder and blew out my knees I was devastated. Even had a run in with severe depression. Now that the Doc says Im fit for physical exercise again its back to the gym. Its tough too, 3.5 years of couch potato sucked the energy from me. I set small goals and double the bar each time. Unfortunately there are only 2 guys at my gym are still past me but they wont be much longer. Once I pass them then I guess its time to look at world records and determine what I want to accomplish.

Kaotic, if you want some suggestions on how to get yourself motivated, I have a word doc that I recently wrote for a trainee with some ways to motivate yourself that have worked for others, I didn't put it here because I didn't want to kill the thread with a feature length reply, but if you want it drop me a message and I will reply with it.

Aside from vanity, I work out to relieve stress.It really helps to clear my head.

And anyways, there are so many activities you can do that make working out fun! Playing football with a bud, throwing a Frisbee, jogging around the park, biking, hiking, swimming, playing soccer, yard work, cleaning the house... All physical activities can make for a good work out.

Just like some of the other guys above mentioned, it is nice to get attention from all the work you do to stay fit. hahaha

my personal trainer. Cause he's smokin and I have big crush on him. HAHAHA. No, honestly it's been engrained since birth; my parents were varsity/division 1 athletes and it's always been the motivational tool (i.e., "get your ass to the gym or get ur ass kicked by mom and dad at the next family volleyball game") - think about it, it would've been EXTREMELY embarassing had I been unfit to beat them.